Friends of James Beard dinner2039 W. North Ave.(773) 395-7100www.srgchicago.com6 p.m. WednesdayCost: $200; $175 for membersSome of the city's top chefs, all James Beard Award winners, join forces to raise money for a scholarship program run by Mr. Beard's namesake foundation. Shawn McClain of Spring, above, collaborates with Takashi Yagihashi of Takashi, Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia and Paul Kahan of Blackbird to create a five-course menu at Spring.

St. Patrick's Day meal20 W. Kinzie St.(312) 467-9525www.keefersrestaurant.com11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. MondayEntrees: $9.95-$14.95Looking for some Guinness beef stew on St. Patrick's Day? Choose that or authentic Irish dishes such as corned beef and cabbage with boiled new potatoes as Keefer's celebrates all that is Irish. The Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band performs for the lunchtime crowd starting at 1:15 p.m. Reservations recommended.

THEATER

"Brontë"2257 N. Lincoln Ave.(773) 871-3000www.remybumppo.org7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2:30 p.m. SundayTickets: $24-$40This production by the Remy Bumppo Theatre Company asks how three Victorian spinsters were able to write such passionate literature. The work by Polly Teale features Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë and some of the characters they created. Through May 4 at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater.

OUTDOOR

"Sugar from the Sun"300 N. Central Park Ave.(312) 746-5100www.garfieldconservatory.org9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. ThursdayFreeUse your senses to understand the process of photosynthesis at this new permanent exhibit at the Garfield Park Conservatory. With four exotic botanical environments, the conservatory has created a living museum that sheds light on how plants use energy from the sun to produce food, oxygen and other resources.

KIDS

"How People Make Things"700 E. Grand Ave.(312) 527-1000www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Friday, Sunday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, SaturdayTickets: $9Give the children in your life a little insight into how their toys and other objects are made in this temporary exhibit at the Chicago Children's Museum. They can mold pourable wax, use a die cutter to make a box and take on other activities to learn about factory tools and machines. Inspired by the factory tour segments on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," you can catch it at the museum through May 11.

MUSIC

Evgeny Kissin220 S. Michigan Ave.(312) 294-3000www.cso.org8 p.m. Thursday-SaturdayTickets: $21-$199The extraordinary talents of Mr. Kissin, who has enthralled audiences since he was a child, will be on display during three performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Russian pianist performs Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 and Stravinsky's modern classic, Symphony in C.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks3145 N. Sheffield Ave.(312) 559-1212www.victheatre.com8 p.m. FridayTickets: $21.50The former Pavement frontman and indie rock pioneer, accompanied by his band, plays the Vic for one night to support a new album, "Real Emotional Trash." John Vanderslice opens.

Chicago Chamber Musicians38 S. Peoria St.(312) 225-5226www.chicagochambermusic.org7:30 p.m. MondayTickets: $16-$40The Chicago Chamber Musicians transport you from Mozart's 18th century to Kurtag's 20th century at the Merit School of Music. Guitarist Fareed Haque joins for the latter piece. A free pre-concert performance for ticket holders at 6:40 p.m. features a collaboration with the Writers' Theatre.

BOOKS

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni400 S. State St.(312) 747-4050www.chicagopubliclibrary.org6 p.m. MondayFreeAs part of Columbia College Chicago's Story Week Festival of Writers, hear Ms. Divakaruni talk about writing and read from her own works, which include her latest novel, "The Palace of Illusions." This event is held in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at the Harold Washington Library.

Sarah Vowell45 Symphony Way, Elgin(847) 931-5900www.hemmens.org8 p.m. FridayTickets: $20-$40Not many people plan a vacation around presidential assassination sites and then write a best-selling book about it. But Ms. Vowell's unique voice, humor and social observations make for great stories, as proven by "Assassination Vacation" and "The Partly Cloudy Patriot." With a new book out later this year, the author shares her social commentary during an event at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

Scott Simon150 N. State St.(312) 606-0750www.bordersstores.com12:30 p.m. ThursdayFreeThe host of National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Saturday" is also a novelist. Hear from Mr. Simon at this reading as he digs into Chicago-style politics in his latest work, "Windy City."

DANCE

"Swan Lake"50 E. Congress Pkwy.(312) 902-1500www.auditoriumtheatre.org8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m., 8 p.m. SaturdayTickets: $30-$85Dancers from the Tchaikovsky Ballet grace the stage of the Auditorium Theatre to present ballet superstar Natalia Makarova's own version of the classic "Swan Lake." Ms. Makarova choreographed and directed this work, which is accompanied by a live symphony orchestra.

ART

"Women of Islam"78 E. Washington St.(312) 744-6630www.chicagoculturalcenter.org8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. SundayFreePhotographer Rania Matar often returns to her homeland of Lebanon to capture images of life. These black-and-white photos look at women of different generations and the head scarf in Muslim culture. In the Michigan Avenue galleries of the Chicago Cultural Center through March 30.

COMEDY

March Madness Improv Tournament929 W. Belmont Ave.(773) 549-8080www.comedysportzchicago.com8 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m., 10 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m. SaturdayTickets: $19For a slightly different kind of March Madness, head to ComedySportz Theatre where teams of improv actors are competing for laughs throughout the week in hopes of winning the tournament. A Chicago champion will be crowned Saturday.

Friends of James Beard dinner2039 W. North Ave.(773) 395-7100www.srgchicago.com6 p.m. WednesdayCost: $200; $175 for membersSome of the city's top chefs, all James Beard Award winners, join forces to raise money for a scholarship program run by Mr. Beard's namesake foundation. Shawn McClain of Spring, above, collaborates with Takashi Yagihashi of Takashi, Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia and Paul Kahan of Blackbird to create a five-course menu at Spring.

St. Patrick's Day meal20 W. Kinzie St.(312) 467-9525www.keefersrestaurant.com11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. MondayEntrees: $9.95-$14.95Looking for some Guinness beef stew on St. Patrick's Day? Choose that or authentic Irish dishes such as corned beef and cabbage with boiled new potatoes as Keefer's celebrates all that is Irish. The Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band performs for the lunchtime crowd starting at 1:15 p.m. Reservations recommended.

THEATER

"Brontë"2257 N. Lincoln Ave.(773) 871-3000www.remybumppo.org7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2:30 p.m. SundayTickets: $24-$40This production by the Remy Bumppo Theatre Company asks how three Victorian spinsters were able to write such passionate literature. The work by Polly Teale features Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë and some of the characters they created. Through May 4 at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater.

OUTDOOR

"Sugar from the Sun"300 N. Central Park Ave.(312) 746-5100www.garfieldconservatory.org9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. ThursdayFreeUse your senses to understand the process of photosynthesis at this new permanent exhibit at the Garfield Park Conservatory. With four exotic botanical environments, the conservatory has created a living museum that sheds light on how plants use energy from the sun to produce food, oxygen and other resources.

KIDS

"How People Make Things"700 E. Grand Ave.(312) 527-1000www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Friday, Sunday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, SaturdayTickets: $9Give the children in your life a little insight into how their toys and other objects are made in this temporary exhibit at the Chicago Children's Museum. They can mold pourable wax, use a die cutter to make a box and take on other activities to learn about factory tools and machines. Inspired by the factory tour segments on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," you can catch it at the museum through May 11.

MUSIC

Evgeny Kissin220 S. Michigan Ave.(312) 294-3000www.cso.org8 p.m. Thursday-SaturdayTickets: $21-$199The extraordinary talents of Mr. Kissin, who has enthralled audiences since he was a child, will be on display during three performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Russian pianist performs Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 and Stravinsky's modern classic, Symphony in C.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks3145 N. Sheffield Ave.(312) 559-1212www.victheatre.com8 p.m. FridayTickets: $21.50The former Pavement frontman and indie rock pioneer, accompanied by his band, plays the Vic for one night to support a new album, "Real Emotional Trash." John Vanderslice opens.

Chicago Chamber Musicians38 S. Peoria St.(312) 225-5226www.chicagochambermusic.org7:30 p.m. MondayTickets: $16-$40The Chicago Chamber Musicians transport you from Mozart's 18th century to Kurtag's 20th century at the Merit School of Music. Guitarist Fareed Haque joins for the latter piece. A free pre-concert performance for ticket holders at 6:40 p.m. features a collaboration with the Writers' Theatre.

BOOKS

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni400 S. State St.(312) 747-4050www.chicagopubliclibrary.org6 p.m. MondayFreeAs part of Columbia College Chicago's Story Week Festival of Writers, hear Ms. Divakaruni talk about writing and read from her own works, which include her latest novel, "The Palace of Illusions." This event is held in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at the Harold Washington Library.

Sarah Vowell45 Symphony Way, Elgin(847) 931-5900www.hemmens.org8 p.m. FridayTickets: $20-$40Not many people plan a vacation around presidential assassination sites and then write a best-selling book about it. But Ms. Vowell's unique voice, humor and social observations make for great stories, as proven by "Assassination Vacation" and "The Partly Cloudy Patriot." With a new book out later this year, the author shares her social commentary during an event at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

Scott Simon150 N. State St.(312) 606-0750www.bordersstores.com12:30 p.m. ThursdayFreeThe host of National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Saturday" is also a novelist. Hear from Mr. Simon at this reading as he digs into Chicago-style politics in his latest work, "Windy City."

DANCE

"Swan Lake"50 E. Congress Pkwy.(312) 902-1500www.auditoriumtheatre.org8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m., 8 p.m. SaturdayTickets: $30-$85Dancers from the Tchaikovsky Ballet grace the stage of the Auditorium Theatre to present ballet superstar Natalia Makarova's own version of the classic "Swan Lake." Ms. Makarova choreographed and directed this work, which is accompanied by a live symphony orchestra.

ART

"Women of Islam"78 E. Washington St.(312) 744-6630www.chicagoculturalcenter.org8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. SundayFreePhotographer Rania Matar often returns to her homeland of Lebanon to capture images of life. These black-and-white photos look at women of different generations and the head scarf in Muslim culture. In the Michigan Avenue galleries of the Chicago Cultural Center through March 30.

COMEDY

March Madness Improv Tournament929 W. Belmont Ave.(773) 549-8080www.comedysportzchicago.com8 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m., 10 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m. SaturdayTickets: $19For a slightly different kind of March Madness, head to ComedySportz Theatre where teams of improv actors are competing for laughs throughout the week in hopes of winning the tournament. A Chicago champion will be crowned Saturday.